[Time to mission departure: 0:27:19]
Markus groaned as he dragged himself across the bed.
(Damn, I'm late)
He jumped into the bath, shivering, as cold water doused him from head to toe, frantically brushing his teeth while water and soap cascaded down his body.
[Time to mission departure: 0:18:02]
Markus ran through the dormitory halls and leapt down the stairs, rushing towards the mission hall.
[Time to mission departure: 0:05:47]
"I made it, with 5 minutes to spare!!" Markus heaved, with labored breathing, trying to catch a breath.
"Are you our fifth? A 1.9m tall, tan-skinned 2nd year student asked.
"You're late, we have been waiting for 20 minutes," he grumbled.
"My name is Maximus, I'm a flame awakener, I'm taking point in this mission, don't get in the way, I don't know how a first year is even allowed to take tier 2 missions, just don't slow us down," Maximus, noticeably irritated, stepped aside.
"Hi~ I'm Candy, a water awakener," Candy eagerly greeted Markus.
"My name is Flint, I'm also a fire awakener," Flint mumbled and stood behind Maximus.
"The last guy doesn't talk much, he's Varus, he's our long ranger dealer and assassin, a wind awakener," Candy introduced on his behalf.
"Senior brother and sisters, thanks for letting me tag along. I am Markus Blackwell. I awakened a Spatial affinity." Markus politely bowed to the ragtag bunch of students, "I'll be in your care for this mission."
[Fate's Eye]
Markus used his ocular ability, sensing malicious intentions from the group of 4.
Red malicious aura was pouring out of Maximus, Flint, and Varus. A neutral blue aura surrounded Candy.
(Hmm, it seems like these 3 plans to plot against me during this mission. I'll play the fool for now.)
The group of 5 boarded an 8-seater private jet belonging to the academy, headed straight to their mission area.
**
As Markus stepped onto Oakhaven territory, he felt a breeze welcoming him back through the forest.
(Grandpa said he found me in a cave in this forest.)
"Welcome, students. I am Colonel Vance, the person in charge," Alistair stood on the tarmac, his piercing gaze scanning through the group of students.
Alistair glanced over to Markus for a short moment, hinting at his acknowledgement of his granddaughter's childhood friend.
"The situation is deteriorating," Alistair explained, as they made their way through the town, "The portal has been influencing local wildlife and flora, inducing unnatural beast movements."
"Your mission: to explore the portal, determine the portal's designation. If it's a rogue dungeon, clear it and extract the portal core; if it's a portal region, clear all its inhabitants and report back to me, and let's hope it's not an elemental domain," Alistair commanded.
"Good luck, for Valeria," Alistair saluted and made his way back to the command center.
"Alright, guys, you heard the man, let's get this done with and head back to school. This forest gives me the creeps," Maximus led the group, walking towards the western gate.
"Weapons out!" Maximus shouted.
Weapons materialized in their hands:
A heavy greatsword in Maximus's hands
A single-edged saber in Flint's hand
A pair of daggers and a set of bow and arrows on Varus's back
A two-handed staff in Candy's
Markus hands in his coat pockets, smiled awkwardly at them, "Sorry guys, I'm in my first year, weapons class starts in the second year."
[367 meters to mission objective]
Their student badges relayed the mission details in real-time.
They sprinted through the damp moss laid over the forest soil, Flint slicing through vegetation with his saber, carving a path straight to the rogue portal that formed recently.
A deep blue hue came into vision; the portal density was intense, about to morph into the next tier.
Portal colors:
Tier 1-2: Blue
Tier 3-4: Purple
Tier 5-6: Red
Tier 7-8: Black
"Together, let's go," Maximus stepped through, as the others followed suit, Varus entered last, firing a tracking arrow to a tree nearby.
**
Sylas Vane sat in the comforts of his office behind a mahogany desk, in the core business district of the Valerian Capital.
[Beep, Beep, Beep]
His communication watch received a signal from Varus, pinging the location of the portal they entered.
He picked up his phone and called his contact in the Assassin's guild.
"Post an assassination mission,
Target: Markus Blackwell, First Year Student of the Valerian Royal Academy
Payment: 10,000 Mid-grade mana stones
Location: Within a Portal near Oakhaven Borough (Forbidden Forest)"
"Assassination request received, please deposit 50% of the contract fee as a deposit," the voice at the other end of the phone requested.
[5,000 Mid-grade mana stones sent to Account Number XXX-XXXX-XXXXX]
"Deposit received, contract has been issued," clack. The line went dead.
"You dare take my only heir's arm? I'll have your head delivered on a platter," Sylas sneered, puffing out a cloud of smoke from his vintage cigar, staring out into the skyline.
**
The exploration team stepped into a musty dungeon. Small crystal formations lit up the dungeon walls.
(Thank god it's a dungeon, should be a simple mission, in and out.) [A/N: 😊]
"Alright, on guard, everyone!" Maximus murmured, "Get in formation!"
"Something isn't right; the mana density is above a tier 2 dungeon," Maximus added.
Maximus stood guard in front, Flint stood closely behind him, saber poised to strike.
Whilst Candy and Markus stood in the middle of the pack, ready to assist with supportive skills and ranged spells.
Varus stood in the rear, arrows pointing forward.
"AWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO"
"AWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO"
"AWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO"
"AWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO"
Howled echoed through the dungeon, and a pack of wolves emerged from the darkness of the cavern.
[Level 28] Cavern Wolf
[Level 29] Cavern Wolf
[Level 27] Cavern Wolf
[Level 30] Cavern Wolf
"Damn, this dungeon is closer to tier 3 than expected."
[Flame Wall] x 2
Maximus and Flint stacked their spells atop each other, increasing their heat and damage.
[Spatial bubble]
Markus initiated a silent cast. A comforting zone of vacuum isolated him from his surroundings.
[Wind Enchantment]
Varus cast wind augmentation on his arrows.
"Attack!" Maximus shouted, leaping into battle.
His sword cleaved through the first wolf, flames trailing in an arc.
Flint flanked the wolf, stabbing it through its abdomen.
Three arrows whistled past Markus and Candy, finding their marks in the wolves further back.
(One of those arrows was aimed at me. It veered off course due to my spatial bubble.)
"Senior Varus, your aim isn't as precise as I hoped," Markus remarked, "I hope you acclimate to the lack of light soon."
[Spatial blade]
[Spatial blade]
[Spatial blade]
Markus cast three spatial blades in succession, severing the 3 wolves in half, finishing the job Varus failed to complete.
[Level up]
[Level up]
"Not bad for a first year," Flint grudgingly admitted.
"I eat well," Markus replied with a sharp, cold smile
Maximus flicked his wrist, collecting the spoils of the dungeon.
"We'll assign the loot after, let's move on ahead."